Automatic pickup device



Dec. 25, 1951 p, BLA|RE 2,579,539

AUTOMATIC PICKUP DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l HIM/7W A TTQIP/VEK Dec. 25, P, L RE AUTOMATIC PICKUP DEVICE 2 SI-IEETS-Sl-IEET 2 Filed Feb. 5. 194'? INVENTQR. Pefe B/a/r'e. M7/

14 T OENEK Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for automatically picking up various materials and more particularly to a device for picking up stacks of steel plates and the like.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an automatic pickup device for handling various stacked materials.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device having a plurality of material engaging members capable of automatic and simultaneous operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic pickup device having means facilitating its attachment to a crane.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic pickup device incorporating positive means for applying mechanical effort to portions of the device directly engaging material to be handled thereby.

The automatic pickup device shown and described herein has been designed to efficiently handle various stacked material such as steel plates as, for example, in a steel mill or fabricating plant. It is well known that in picking up stacked steel plates and the like it is common practice to pass a plurality of chains beneath the stack to form slings which are in turn attached to a hook carried by a crane. This operation necessitates manual guidance and placement of the chains and particularly the slings formed thereby during the actual pickup and carrying operation. As a consequence, considerable time is lost in handling stacked materials and frequently the men employed for handling the chains and the slings are injured by material shifting or slipping in the chain slings. These disadvantages of pickup and carrying operations of such materials are completely overcome by the present invention.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the automatic pickup device.

' Figure 2 is a top plan view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the pickup device taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1, 2 and 3 in particular it will be seen that an automatic pickup device has been disclosed which comprises a main frame If] having a secondary reinforcing and attachment frame ll affixed thereto and preferably between spaced portions of the main frame In. The secondary reinforcing and attachment frame I l is provided with an opening l2 facilitating the attachment of a crane hook or the like thereto so that the main frame It may be picked up thereby. Depending from the main frame It and positioned at right angles thereto there are a plurality of depending subframe members I3 each of which is of semitriangular shape, the apex portion of which is indicated by the numeral [4 and which is positioned between the spaced frame members l0 and affixed thereto. Positioned transversely of the several depending sub-frame members l3 there is a drive shaft [5 which extends axially with respect to the main frame l0 and is located therebeneath.

Means for imparting movement to the drive shaft I5 is provided and comprises a motor and gear reduction unit 16 which in turn is supported on a base I! carried between a centrally located pair of the depending sub-frame members 13. Each of the sub-frame members I3 has a pair of arms 18 pivoted thereto by means of pivots 19. It will be observed by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings that each of the pairs of arms [8 pivoted to each of the sub-frame members 13 are in oppositely disposed relation to one another and are provided at their lowermost ends with inturned, pointed projections 20. The pointed projections 20 are adapted to underlie a stack of material to be picked up by the device.

It will also be seen by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings that each of the pairs of oppositely disposed arms 18 pivoted to each of the subframe members I 3 are bent midway between their upper end lowermost ends so that in closed position the lower halves of the arms [8 lie on vertical planes spaced apart from one another thus enabling stacks of sheets or plates to be picked up between the arms when the pointed. projections 20 are engaged therebeneath.

Means for imparting simultaneous and controlled movement to each of the opposed pairs of arms I 8 pivoted to each of the sub-frame members I 3 is provided and comprises a pair of shafts 2i and 22, respectively, positioned through each of the pairs of oppositely disposed arms is, respectively. The shafts 2| and 22, respectively, unite the plurality of arms 18 and insure the transmission of any movement imparted to any of the pairs of arms l8 and to all of the others as well. Means for transmitting movement from the drive shaft I5 to the arms I8 is also provided and comprises crank members 23 and 24 positioned on the opposite ends of the drive shaft I5. Connecting rods 25 and 26 are adjustably affixed to-the cranks 23 and 24 as by means of pivots 2'! and 2B. The lower ends of the connecting rods 25 and 26 are pivoted to meeting ends of oppositely disposed pairs ofylevers 29 by means of a longitudinally extendmg shaft 30. The shaft 30 engages each of the pairs of oppositely disposed levers as best shown in Fig; ure 1 of the drawings. Each of the pairs of levers29 arein turn pivoted at theiroutermost ends to the longitudinal shafts 2| an'd 22 heretofore described. v v H V It will thus be seen that movement imparted to the drive shaft l5 will impart cir'ular 'movement to the "cranks 23 and 24 which movement will be imparted to the connecting rods 25 and 25 in the form of VrticalmoVem'ent. The verticaljmovem'ent is inturnfconveyed 'by the longitudinal'extending shaft 50 andthe pairs of levers 29 to the ldngitudinally extending shafts 2! and thence to the oppositely disposed -pairsof arm's I8. I y v y ,f. I

By referring now tq Figu're 3 of the drawings it will be s e thatsolid lines thereon indicate the closed position of the "arms la and dotted lines "indicate the open position of the arms I8.

Still referring to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be seen that a guide member 3! is pivoted to eac'h of the's'ubframe members l3 forming the outermost ends of the automatic pickup device and'slid'ably engage the connecting rods 25 and 26, respectively.

' causedtomove'apart bythe'energization of the 'motor and{ gear"reduction unit 16 as heretofore explained and the device lowered 'over the stack of plates and the arms I t c'aused to move to- "gether'to bring the pointed projections ZUbeneath the stack of plates to be lifted. When this is accomplished the cranemay lift the auto- 'inatic; pickup device and the stack of plates therein and transfer it to any desired location where a 'st'ack 'ofiplates may againbe se't down byloweringthe sametoa position adjacent the supporting'sur'face and'energ'izing the motor and gear unit [6 to'oause the armsto move apart.

It will be understood by those skilledin the artthat blocks are usually provided underneath stacks of steel f'she'ets or plates or "the like to V facilitate handling and that such blocks would receive the weightof the steel pl'ate's or sheets prior more disengagement or the pointed projections 20of 'th'e'arnisIB of the automatic pickup j'd'ev'ic'e. 7 a V V r 'It will thus beseen that a siiiiple "and efficient automatic pickupdevice hasbeenjdis'closed vvhich wille'riable stacked fiat materials, for examp ejtb be readily handledwithou't danger'of slippage or injury to personnel. The device maybe entirely operated by r'mote control. It willals'o'befs'een alarme-simuuanetus'anaumrbrmatuon' qr the oppositely disposed pairs of arms i8 is 'irl's'ured by 4 the provision of the longitudinally extending and interconnected shafts 2 I, 22 and so and that any movement imparted to the said shafts is of necessity imparted to all of the arms ill by the interconnection of these several parts. Due to the simplicity of formation of the automatic pickup device it may be readily disassembled for shipment and reassembled at the point of use and that in the case of breakage or damage-of any of the component parts thereof "they may be easily and simply replaced despite the interlocking ass'embled relation of the parts and their simultaneous movement in operation.

Having 'thus described my invention, what I claim is: a

1. An automaticpickup device comprising a -mngnuamarn-memember having a plurality of depending sub-frame members attached thereto and each of the said sub-frame members having a pair of oppositely'disposed arms freely --pivoted thereto, a longitudinally extending shaft positioned rorngagemem vvith'each of the'said oppositely disposed arms onone side of the said longitudinally extending frame said shaft engaging s'aidar'ms inwardly fromtheir outermost ends, and a secondary longitudinal shaft placed for engagement witheach of the arms 'on the other side of the said frame, said shaft engaging [said arms inwardly from their "outermost ends a third longitudinal shaft located midway between the first and second mentioned shafts,

jlie'verscoh'necting the s aid'jshafts to one another 'andimeans for imparting vertical movementto longitudinally thereof, a plurality of arms pivoted freely and one to each of the said spacedpivo't members and depending therefrom, a longitudinal shaft interconnecting the said armspivoted tothe pivots on one side of the said sub-frame members, said shaft engaging said arms inwardly from their outermostendsand a secondary longitudinal shaft interconnecting the arms pivoted to the pivot members lying on the other side ofthe said sub-frame members,- said secondary shaft engaging said arms inwardly from their outermost ends the said arms being arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and each ofthe said arms having inturned lower end portions formedthereon, a third'longitudinal shaft positioned midway between the said arms and levers connecting the shaft and second longitudinal shaft with the said third shaft and means for imparting vertical movement to the said third shaft for simultaneously opening and closing the arms with respect'to one another.

3. An automatic pickup device including a longitudinal frame member having a secondary reinforcing and pickup member attached thereto and extending thereabove, anda plurality of depending sub-frame members positioned at right angles to the said frame member, a drive shaft journaled in'each the said subarame members and extending longitudinally of the 'said device,

a plurality of pivot members positioned on the said sub-frame members on a horizontal plane and spaced transversely and longitudinally with respect to one another, a plurality of arms pivoted one to each of the said spaced pivot members and depending therefrom, a longitudinally extending shaft interconnecting the said arms pivoted to the pivots on one side of the said subframe members, said shaft engaging said arms inwardly from their outermost ends and a sec ondary longitudinally extending shaft intercom necting the arms pivoted to the pivot members lying on the other side of the said sub-frame members, said secondary shaft engaging said arms inwardly from their outermost ends the said arms being arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and each of the said arms havin inturned lower end portions formed thereon, a third longitudinal shaft positioned midway between the said arms and links connecting the first and second mentioned longitudinally extending shaft with the said third shafts and means for imparting vertical movement to the said third shaft for simultaneously opening and closing the arms with respect to one another, the said means for imparting vertical movement to the third shaft comprising said drive shaft, a motor and gear reduction unit connected to the said drive shaft, cranks positioned on the said drive shaft and connectin rods connecting the said cranks with the said third shaft.

PETE BLAIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PAfI'ENTS Number Name Date 992,307 Weickel et a1 May 16, 1911 1,443,138 Littley Jan. 23, 1923 1,706,332 Theriot Mar. 19, 1929 1,717,194 Daoust June 11., 1929 1,807,266 Wazlavek May 26, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 258,676 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1926 16,474 Holland Apr. 17, 19 7 

